THE Åland Games, now just 13 weeks away, is likely to be the biggest in the 24-year history of the NatWest Island Games.
The executive committee of the International Island Games Association (IIGA) met in Menorca, the 25th member of the Association, for the first time recently when chairman Jorgen Pettersson commented: ‘Menorca, the newest member of the IIGA, has brougADVERTISEMENTht cultural diversity to the IIGA and many good sportsmen and women to the NatWest Island Games.’
At the meeting in Mahon, Menorca the chairman of the organising committee of the NatWest Island Games 2009 in Åland, Dick Ekstrom, presented a detailed progress report.’We are well prepared and looking forward to welcoming all our friends to our island to enjoy friendship and sport,’ said Ekstrom.
The 13th NatWest Island Games will take place between June 27 and July 4 and has attracted more competitors than ever before. Of the 25 competing islands, Jersey will bring the largest team with 251 accredited personnel and St Helena will bring the smallest with six accredited personnel. The Isle of Man team will be flying together on one single chartered flight of 219.
Football is the most popular sport, with more than 500 competitors, while only 20 windsurfers will compete in their discipline.
Jerry Whitsey, representing NatWest, confirmed how delighted the sponsor company was to see the continuing increase in interest from the member islands and how pleased it was to play a part in bringing island communities together in friendly sport.’
Besides sponsoring the actual event, NatWest also supports the NatWest Sports Development Programme which is administrated by the IIGA. So far 20 islands all over the world have benefited from the programme and, thanks to the sponsorship have been able to develop sports on their own islands.
After Åland, the Isle of Wight will be the host for the next Games in 2011.
